experience with Bryston BDA-1 ?

kernel streaming bypasses the windows kernel. Foobar 2000 supports it. Windows media player, Media monkey and most other players get stepped on by legacy Windows manipulation of the audio stream with no options to bypass using kernel streaming. iTunes and VLC are about the only players I can stand for casual listening without kernel streaming support.

downbload asio4all.

MediaMonkey told me that their version 4.0 has this probem resolved.

After a few months of playing my system, I have to conclude that this kind of computer music/sound card/DAC
is a low quality (as described earlier) but very convenient approach. For those who have been using iPod/iTune, they should see quality improveemnt. Viewed from an audiophile, the approach still needs a lot of improvement - long way.
Summary:
1) if a ripped a CD and play thru computer/DAC, it sounds less full body & less resolution than I play the CD on my old Sony xa9000es.
2) If I play hi-res 96khz/24 bit file, the quality is closer (but not very close) to playing SACD.
3) I listened to my friend's another known-brand DAC which reads wave files from network drive (no sound card), the quality is about the same.

Note that I listen to LP most of the time, so the approach
is ever poorer when compared to play vinyl.

Thanks for everyone's input.

unless you use kernel streaming you will get a lifeless experience playing music back. I don't find ASIO or WASAPI acceptable for audiophile level of playback.